BALLARAT Red Devils coach James Robinson says 16-year-old goalkeeper Ryan Schorback is more than ready to step up for his senior debut.
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The teenager will guard the net for the first time in the Reds’ crucial match against Box Hill United on Saturday, replacing the suspended first-choice gloveman Aaron Romein.
It will be his first appearance in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 1 senior competition, usually keeping in the under-20s competition.
Robinson said he expected Schorback to slot into the position with ease, with plans put in place all season to make the transition as seamless as possible.
“Ryan’s been training with us for months, he’s been in the environment for long enough now where he should fit in well,” Robinson said.
“It’s a great opportunity and he’s got to take it with both hands.”
Schorback came into contention to start last week when Romein received a fifth yellow card, resulting in an automatic one-match suspension under NPLV1 rules.
And with number one under-20s keeper Jason Hill also still under suspension, the gloves have been thrown to the promising teenager.
Robinson said it was up to the 10 other players on the pitch to ensure Schorback’s senior debut was a memorable one.
“We have a job as a team to work together, not just to put it all on one person,” he said.
“That’s not just this week though, that’s every week.”
The McDonalds Reds enter the third-last match of the season in white-hot form, with their unbeaten streak sitting at an incredible 10 matches.
They are currently in second position on the NPLV1 west ladder, one point clear of third-placed Moreland Zebras.
Should they finish second, they will have a playoff match against second-place in the east conference, with the winner to meet the side that comes third-last in the NPLV division for a shot at promotion.
“We know that our destiny is in our own hands now,” Robinson said.
“There are only three games so left so we just have to keep doing what we have been doing.”
Daniel Firth comes back into the side this week, although Jimmy Downey, Simon Murphy and Adrian Curtain are unavailable.
Box Hill currently sit in fourth position in the eastern conference, with the Reds then to face Bullen Lions (first in the west) and Moreland Zebras (third in the west) in a challenging end to the season.
The match will be played at Box Hill’s Wembley park on Saturday at 3.15pm.